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Toyota Camry Hybrid

3174 messages,  Last post on Oct 15, 2009 at 3:24 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Hybrid Cars


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#3159 of 3174
- by dudleyr
Apr 20, 2009 (10:58 am)
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My father is in the market and he is most likely getting a 2010 Prius instead. Much better mpg than the Camry et al and much more head room as well (the Altima is pathetic for rear head room).
 
Might one to give one a look, supposed to be a huge improvement over the 09.
#3160 of 3174
TCH Charging of Battery by rjohn2
May 11, 2009 (11:55 am)
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I live in South Louisiana where if a hurricane comes, I need to hit the road. If I leave too late, I get stuck in traffic, hence my concern with the TCH car that I have and the ability of the battery to maintain its power in very slow moving traffic. Traffic moves very slowly on the interstate and back roads, so the car very seldom has the opportunity to rev up and run on the gas engine. The same goes for leaving LSU football games where traffic is horrific when leaving the game.
 
My question is, if I put the car in park and rev the engine up, will the engine charge the battery back up so I can continue on with my trip out of town? I know that the car won't rev up with it in neutral.
 
Thanks
#3161 of 3174
Re: TCH Charging of Battery [rjohn2] by toyofan5
May 11, 2009 (12:09 pm)
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Replying to: rjohn2 (May 11, 2009 11:55 am)

No worries on the traffic. The hybrid is automated. So if you're running on battery and the hybrid battery doesn't have enough braking energy recovered in the traffic, it will turn the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) on for a little bit to recharge the hybrid battery. This is all automatic. It won't use a lot of gas as if you didn't have a hybrid the engine would be running all the time anyway. The net effect still in this type of traffic (hurricane evacuation) that you describe is still going to be excellent compared to all the others, and you'll get further on your tank of gas than everyone else in traffic helping with another worry on those times (running out of gas).
 
I have had my Camry hybrid for 18 months and its only been 2-3 times that the above scenario even occured, and both times the car performed well.
 
One tip is that if you find yourself in that situation, you might turn off the air conditioner, (and heat if you happen to be able to live without that too at the time) as those will accelerate the usage of the battery when on battery power alone in these siutations. You can certainly use AC/Heat, its not problem at all...it will just cycle the engine on a little more to keep the battery charged and then turn the engine back off. Still getting better gas mileage than all the other cars there.
#3162 of 3174
Re: TCH Charging of Battery [rjohn2] by kdhspyder
May 11, 2009 (5:14 pm)
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Replying to: rjohn2 (May 11, 2009 11:55 am)

You don't need to do any revving at all. You can drive forever at whatever speed you desire as long as you have gas in the car.
#3163 of 3174
TCH vs. '10 Prius by ck90211
Jul 23, 2009 (3:36 pm)
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Anyone looked/drove both TCH and the new '10 Prius?
 
I have a 07 Prius (instead of TCH because of CA HOV sticker), and looking to buy another hybrid soon (thanks to $4500 Clunker program). Like to get some feedback from folks who tried TCH and '10 Prius. Thanks.
 
Any words on hybrid minivans (C'mon Toyota all your minivan, Previa and old Sienna owners are waiting)?
#3164 of 3174
Re: TCH Charging of Battery [rjohn2] by vivianz
Jul 24, 2009 (4:58 am)
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Replying to: rjohn2 (May 11, 2009 11:55 am)

I too live in south Louisiana, and one of the reasons I bought the TCH is it's ablility to go much longer on the highway than other cars. I have an 08, and have gotten excellent mileage. The only thing it has a really small trunk. You can't take much if you are evacuating. I haven't had to evacuate yet, but.....
#3165 of 3174
Re: TCH Charging of Battery [vivianz] by rjohn2
Aug 18, 2009 (6:39 am)
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Replying to: vivianz (Jul 24, 2009 4:58 am)

I did find out some great news last week, after worrying for the past couple of years about it. The Camry gas engine will automatically kick in once the battery level drops to a certain level, so there is no way you can get stranded in slow moving traffic unless your battery completely dies on the road and you have to stop your engine or you run out of gas. Then you have to have it jump started.
 
I was relieved about that.
#3166 of 3174
Re: TCH Charging of Battery [rjohn2] by larsb
Aug 18, 2009 (7:49 am)
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Replying to: rjohn2 (Aug 18, 2009 6:39 am)

rjohn2 says, "The Camry gas engine will automatically kick in once the battery level drops to a certain level, so there is no way you can get stranded in slow moving traffic unless your battery completely dies on the road and you have to stop your engine or you run out of gas. Then you have to have it jump started. "
 
You are right about everything except the last sentence.
 
You don't have to have the car "jump started" if you run out of gas. The "engine battery" is separate from the "hybrid battery" and the car behaves no differently than any other gasoline-powered car if you run out of gas - put gas in the car and go.
 
If you leave the lights on all night, then you might need a jump start, just like any other car with a regular 12v battery which controls the power accessories in the car.
 
Let me know if you have any other questions - don't wait "a couple of years" before asking !!!
 
I have owned my TCH for three years and if I don't know the answer, I can find it.
#3167 of 3174
Windshield Wipers by pat85
Aug 20, 2009 (8:31 am)
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How do I remove the widshield wipers to replace them.?
#3168 of 3174
Re: 2009 camry hybrid Premium Package w/Navi ??? [gerrythegreat] by jrsdriver
Sep 09, 2009 (8:27 am)
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Replying to: gerrythegreat (Jul 06, 2008 11:39 am)

I live in the U.S. and was told I had no choice but to have leather seats if I wanted the heated seats and side mirrors, which I did. I also wanted the NAV system. All these things are terrific in my 2009 TCH.
 
The only thing is that I would have preferred velour seats. Unfortunately, that was not an option.

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